Podemos: ‘They Are Trying to Convert Greece Into a Protectorate’

A high-profile member of Spanish anti-austerity political party Podemos denounced on Monday the recent cash-for-reforms bailout deal between Athens and its international creditors and said it seems like a “financial coup d’ état” aiming to transform Greece into a European “protectorate.”

Former MEP and current regional deputy Pablo Echenique Robba stressed: “What they are trying to do in Greece is launch a financial coup d’ état and convert it into a protectorate.”

“There is no European solidarity,” he said during a television interview, becoming the first Podemos member to publicly react on the tough reforms the Greek government is forced to apply.

In the meanwhile, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias had previously expressed his support toward Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, saying: “Wait Alexis [Tsipras], we are coming and we will be stronger.”

The parliamentary elections in Spain will be held later this year. Podemos has become, in a little more than a year, the country’s third political force, after the Christian democraticand conservative People’s Party (PP) and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE).